Improvement in wrenches



- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE O.'TAFT, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WRENCH ES.

Specification fnrmingpart of Letters Paicnt No. l08,738, dated October 25, li ZO.

1" all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I,.G. O. TAFT, ofNVorcester, in the county of WVoreester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Wrenches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the 'construction and operation of the same, reference beinghad to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a plan View of my improved wrench. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, and Fig. 3 is a cross-section, of the same. I

My invention relates to wrenches; and it consists in the construction of a ratchet-wrench with an adjustable spring-pawl fixed in the head and arranged to engage with the teeth of a ratchet formed on the under side of the movable jaw, thereby constituting a wrench of great strength and simplicity, capable of being operated, if necessary, with one hand.

The letter A of the drawings designates the handle of the wrench, slotted at b.

0 represents the stationary jaw, slotted at (Z to receive the spring-pawl e, and at c to receive the ridge n of the movable jaw, which slides through it.

D is the movable jaw, having a ratchet, 2,

formed on'its under side, the teeth whereof are inclined or beveled toward the stationary jaw in order that they will readily permit the movable jaw to be closed toward the former with but slight pressure. A pin, 2, is fixed in the end of the ratchet-arm,designed to prevent it from being thrown entirely out of its slot.

The general. shape of the head of the wrench is circular, and the handle is usually curved outward on the same side with the movable jaw, as specified. Serrated rosettes s are attached to the spring-pawl, and are arranged on each side of the stationary jaw to move in slots 12 therein, thus enabling the operator to disengage, with his thumb and finger, the spring-pawl from the ratchet. U the handle-is designed to enable the operator to work it with one hand. The thumb is thereby brought sufliciently near to enable it to push the movable jaw, in adjusting the wrench upon a nut or screw-head.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The wrench herein described, consisting of the handle A, stationary jaw O, sliding jaw D, having stop 2 and ratchet z, and springpawl e, operated by the serrated rosettes s s, as and for the purposes specified. I

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

. GEO. O. TATFIE- Witnesses:

GEo. OLTAFT, J12, E. N. TAFT.

The bend in 

